Tiux Compression Socks review

I had the awesome opportunity to try out a pair of Tiux compression socks over the last few weeks. After wearing them during and after my runs, I have nothing but positive things to say about them. I'll start with the company first.

Tiux is a small, start-up company that sells premium, technical compression socks at an incredible affordable price(only $35!!!).
They skip the middleman process and eliminate wholesalers and distributors by selling directly online to their customers so there's no inflated mark-ups like other brands.

Not only are the reliable, high quality compression socks, they're also for a great cause. Tiux donates 1% of all it's profits to MAGS(Mines Advisory Group) to help save lives and protect communities from landmines and other weapons remaining after conflicts.

 I am in love with the bright pink and yellow. They're also available in black/yellow and yellow/blue.
They're surprisingly warm, which is perfect for fall/winter running but also breathable since I'm a heavy sweater when I run. My favorite thing about these socks would probably be the padded footbed. It almost feels like a normal sock then the rest of the sock is stretchy and fits like a glove. They're my new go-to sock for recovery after a long run or keeping my legs from feeling fatigued especially during a fast paced run.

For the cost and value of these socks, I highly recommend you give them a try. I'm hosting a give-away on my Instagram for one lucky person to try them for free!

The Puppy Run!

I am all about running for a cause and supporting charities. I believe that if you have the means to make a difference, then make it happen. I use my Charity Miles app on my Iphone often and ran my first marathon raising $1500 for the American Cancer Society.

So when I read about the Puppy Run, I absolutely loved the idea. It's a family and/or dog-oriented swag filled virtual run that supports a canine-related charity for dogs in need. A portion of every registration will make a huge impact on those pups lives.

In case you've never participated in a virtual run, here's how it works. Instead of all the runners meeting up in one location, the run can be done anywhere on your own time. Participants register online (registration is open now until 5-13-15 at 11:59PM or until sell-out). You can run it solo, with a team of people, or with a child or dog.

Once registration closes, the swag is mailed out and arrives straight to your doorstep!! Then register to submit your results, qualifying you for awards and prizes.
Get out and run your selected distance then submit the results online. It's that easy! Let me tell you about the sweet things that come with the run...

There's distance options of a 5K, 10K, or 1/2 marathon and also has registration options for kids and dogs with their own specific swag items.

*All adults receive a custom shirt, finisher medal, bib, and sticker.

*All kids receive a draw-string bag, folder frisbee, finisher medal, bib, and sticker.

*Dogs receive a bandana, collapsible water bowl, and doggy treat :)

 

Soft t-shirts for adults

 

 

 

5K finisher medal

 

 

 

10K and 1/2 finisher medals

 

 

Kid swag

 

 

 

Dog swag

 

 

 

This is a fantastic opportunity to get out with a group of friends or family to enjoy the spring weather and help make a difference in a dog's life. Or take your pooch out for some exercise and some bonding time. I know my 4 year old daughter will love this!

 

 

You can register at  www.thepuppyrun.com

 

 

Save 10% of the registration cost and use my special code, jennifer10 when you checkout.

 

 

So sign up, get out and run, and celebrate dogs everywhere with The Puppy Run!

 

 

 

photo from thepuppyrun.com

 

 





 







Chicago Lakefront Ultra-marathon 2015 recap

So I did say I wasn't going to do any long distance running this spring after an exhausting year of training in 2014. As soon as I heard that Meghan(Maxfitgirl29) was running it, I began to reconsider. I decided to run it with her, but promised myself I wouldn't train hard with the 24-26 mile training runs and back to back long runs. So that's what I did. I got a couple 20 milers under my belt and stayed consistent with 40-50 miles a week the entire winter. I felt great until I got sick with the stomach bug just 3 days before the race. I woke up in the middle of the night and it was just coming out of both ends(sorry tmi)

I couldn't keep water down and it didn't take long before I got so dehydrated I almost blacked out. I got muscle cramps and couldn't even open my hands. My husband took awesome care of me that night. I probably should've gone to the ER for some IV fluid replacement but I eventually started keeping Gatorade down and rested the entire day. It lasted about 24 hours, but I had zero appetite after the bug wore off and was forcing myself to eat and fuel up before the ultra. I ran a 3 mile shake out run and felt pretty decent so I decided to go through with the 31 mile run on Saturday. Unfortunately, Meghan got the same thing I had and couldn't run. Thankfully, I had Brenda running with me so I had some good company.

The morning of the ultra I drove myself out to the north side of lakeshore drive in Chicago where the race started. My stomach was just feeling weird. It was gurgling around and I was texting my husband worried about not being 100% for the race(I forced him to go to work that day, I'd feel too guilty having him wait around for me)

Love reppin my Oiselle singlet at events

 

I met up with Brenda and we were off at 8:30am to begin our journey of 31 miles. We kept it slow and steady between 9-10 min/mile pace. The only goals I had were to finish my second ultra and get back to running asap after. It was a 5 mile out and back course. The first 5 miles were amazing with the wind to our backs. But feeling that wind pushing us and watching the sand blow across the path we knew we were in for a hell of a headwind on the 5 miles back.  Sure enough, it was what we anticipated. The headwind was pretty brutal, almost breath taking. I kept my head down and just pressed on. My stomach seemed to be holding up ok until I took in my first gel. It was nothing new, the same GU Roctanes I always take, but my stomach didn't take a liking to it and starting having issues with cramping and bloating. I stayed away from my gels the rest of the race and really could only stomach a couple handfuls of peanut M&M's and water.

 

 

About half way through, my right hip got tight which was pretty irritating since it seems my legs like to play tricks on me during long distance races. My stomach eased up a bit close to the 20 mile mark, but my energy plummeted with the lack of fuel I had. So either way I was screwed. Take in fuel the right way and suffer stomach cramps, or don't do it and suffer muscle cramps. I'm used to running on tired legs thanks to my summer training last year, so I chose the muscle cramps.

 

 

Brenda was doing awesome and I felt bad for holding her back. With only 2.5 miles left, I stopped at the last water table to drink and insisted she go ahead of me and finish strong, which is what she did. I took off a couple minutes after her and the last couple miles were a lot of just trying to shut my brain off and get to the finish line. I was running on fumes and had nothing left. I managed to get to the finish line and re-unite with Brenda and her husband. I was so happy it was done and I felt proud of pushing through despite all the setbacks I had. Ultra #2 was done and I am already thinking about doing it again in the fall. So proud of Brenda for becoming an ultra runner and incredibly grateful I had her company. My official finish time was 5:33:01, 7th place in my age group and 86th place overall out of 185 runners.

 

 

 

 

 

Ultra marathons are probably my most favorite thing to run. They're laid back, fun, and it's absolutely mind blowing to see what your body can do. It's about enjoying the scenery, friends, and doing the impossible. No doubt they hurt like hell, but when it's over I feel so strong. I want to thank everyone who texted me or supported me especially through my Instagram account. Now I begin my Erie Marathon journey and after a long winter of easy running without my Garmin watch, I'm ready physically and mentally to train hard and get strong!



 



Why do I run?

Probably the single most asked question I receive is why do I run?
"Isn't it hard?"
"It's so boring!"
"You're so skinny, why do you do it?"
"I only run when being chased, ha!"
"You think running is fun?!"---crazy look on face

If you're a runner, I'm sure you've heard the same things. A lot of times when I'm asked this question, I really don't know what to say. I'll hesitate and I know why I do it, but I can't elaborate into words why I do it day after day. Maybe that's because running is more of a feeling then anything else. I'm not the greatest at expressing feelings either, so usually I'll just mutter the words, "because I want to."

When I started running years ago, it just kind of happened. I didn't wake up one day and say to myself, "I'm going to run and do it everyday until I'm good at it!"
I've always had an itch inside of me to be active. I was a tomboy growing up and loved playing basketball or football with the boys in the neighborhood (including my now husband)
As a kid, I was shy, unpopular, and had a kind heart. These things combined ultimately killed me throughout school. I was picked on, sat by myself at lunch, and never had any girlfriends I could talk to or hang out with. I so badly wanted to join a sports team to connect with others and cure this itch I had deep inside. I was getting in trouble in school and failing classes. My junior high school counselor even wrote a letter to my parents calling me a derailed train with a dim future.

So when the time came when I was allowed to join a team, I tried Poms in 8th grade. Found out I wasn't pretty enough, so I dropped out. At that time, I had started running around my neighborhood by myself a day or two a week. I'd usually sneak out of the house with my Walkman cassette tape player and just zone out while I trotted down the street. I was by myself with no one judging me or telling me I couldn't do it. It was liberating.

9th grade I tried the track team, but that lasted one day and I was forced to drop out then too.

10th grade I practiced with the softball team and was pulled aside by one of the girls and was told I probably wouldn't make it because, "I was too skinny and not strong enough to handle it."

I knew I wasn't a natural athlete. No one in my family was active and as a kid, it was hard to get out. I turned to running even more during this time to allow myself to decompress from school, from the lack of friends, and the lack of confidence I had.

The more I ran, the more self-worth I gained. I wasn't good at it. I had no idea what pace I was running or the miles I put in. I wore cheap tennis shoes and had to take a lot of walk breaks. I couldn't breathe, my knees hurt, and I questioned why I was doing it many times. All I know is when I returned to my house as tired as I was, I felt stronger...inside. This was a feeling I wasn't used to and it felt so good. Between 11th and 12th grade in high school, I started to turn things around. I stopped caring what others thought of me. I started getting A's and B's and taking honor's classes. I developed self-esteem and was starting to understand what it was to take care of my body and my mind. This derailed train graduated with Honor's and enrolled straight into a nursing program in college. I took running with me the entire way.

Maybe it's a coincidence that running changed me for the better.
Is it hard? Hell yes it is!
Does it hurt? Like a motherfucker.
Isn't it boring? It can be, but if it is all the time, you're doing it wrong.
You're skinny, why do you run? Who said it was about being skinny???
I only run when being chased? Maybe you have something chasing you and you can't see it...
You think running is fun?  When you put in the work and your body adapts, it does become fun. Imagine no pain, no shortness of breath, and the feeling of flying----this takes time and work. You have to earn it day after day, month after month, year after year.

We now live in a world were the majority of people are overworked and are used to having things made convenient for them. Being an active, healthy person in a world like this, will definitely make me stand out. Whether it's in a positive way or a negative one. That's why I turn to others who run and connect with them through social media or at local races. Before the days of Instagram and Daily Mile, I really felt like an alien, like the oddball. Now I see runners are out there...everywhere and it's a hell of a community to be a part of.

After 15 years of running, I don't ever see myself giving it up. It's a part of me. You ask me why I run, I'll ask you why you piss in the morning when you wake up. To me, it's natural and a normal part of my day. I eat better, I feel better, and hope to be a positive influence to my 4 year old daughter as she grows in a world of convenience and lack of people taking care of themselves. Running teaches us that things are hard and do hurt...but is that an excuse to quit and throw in the towel. NO! Persevere and push through it. Take on challenges and allow them to change you and make you stronger. Then take on a harder challenge and see what you can do. Such is life. You'd be surprised at what you can do and how it changes you for the better.

Never stop running

A new year and fresh start!

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it's going to launch you into something great. Just focus and keep aiming...."

This year, I'm aiming for progress not perfection. Run by feel and not pressure myself by numbers on a watch. I think it's taken a couple months to feel "normal" again after my God awful marathon in November, but for the first time since then, I'm looking forward to what the future holds for me this year as far as running is concerned. I'm not going to pressure myself with those two, bold letters...BQ.

I believe it will happen when the time is right. I know I have it in me, but I think last year I just put way too much pressure on myself to achieve it. Running has always been something I looked forward to and enjoyed. Training as hard as I did last summer and obsessing over numbers on a training plan really kind of made me dread the thought of it. This time, I'm running by feel. I'll write my own training plan, but the only things that will be in concrete are my long runs and ONE speed word session a week. Every other run will be whatever my legs feel like doing that day. Whether they want to run a 9 min mile or a 7 min mile. I'm going to log my runs and thoughts into my Believe Journal every day and really just get in touch with myself instead of ignoring how I feel. I'm not treating myself like a robot anymore.

I'm already starting to look for races to do this year. I definitely want to run another marathon and 50K ultra. I'm hoping to do Chicago again and get in the lottery that will hopefully open up in February or March.  I want to get out and explore new running routes and places. Maybe run with other people more often. Spring can not come quick enough for me!

I'm totally excited to be a part of the 2015 Nuun Ambassador Team. I'm a nutrition and hydration geek and anything that is going to enhance my running and allow me to connect with like-minded people, I'm there!  I'm also looking forward to continuing to represent the Oiselle Team, which is a HUGE honor. Being on a team of such inspiring women means the world to me and not mention, the super cute clothes are just an added bonus :) I can't wait for my next race so I can sport that singlet again.

I'd like to extend a shout-out to my mother, who just joined the blogging community. Along with my 2015 goals that I mentioned here, I'm going to also try to establish a closer relationship with God(another reason I love running, because that's when I feel closest to Him)
If you're interested in a more spiritual blog, check out hers and send her some love ----   http://kathyayers.wordpress.com/

Here's to 2015 and some amazing miles ahead. Thanks to everyone that takes the time to read my blog or follow me on Instagram. Looking forward to following everyone's journey!

Monumental Marathon recap

So, it's been 1 week today since crossing the finish line of the Monumental marathon in Indy and I'm just beginning to accept the outcome. After reading Kara Goucher's latest blog post about her NYC marathon, I found the courage to post a blog about mine as well. I've used this week as sort of a re-charge for myself. I've been running easy runs and staying off social media. I'm ready to look forward to 2015 and what's to come.

To start off, many of you that follow me on Instagram know how excited I was for this race. I started training for it in July and followed a very tough 18 week training plan. I ran the prescribed workouts and an even faster pace than was aimed for a 3:35 marathon finish(Boston qualifying time for me) Getting out the door was never a problem for me. If I had to get up at 3:50AM before a 12 hour shift to get my run in for the day, I'd do it. Never complained about it, never got tired of it. I just did it. I wanted this BQ as bad as I wanted to breathe. I put in the work. I trained my heart out as hard as it got at times, I PUT IN THE WORK.

My injury 3 weeks before the marathon was emotionally devastating as much as it was for my training. Every night before bed, I believed I would wake up and run out the door and return to my training, but it never happened. I put on a brave face and tried my best to remain positive, but deep inside of me, I knew Boston was out of the question.

The morning of the marathon, I wasn't expecting a BQ. My foot was not 100%, the temperature was 29 degrees with 30 mph winds. I still had hope for that sub 4 hour, but I just wasn't feeling confident at all. I even told my husband in the hotel before we left for the start line, that I had a feeling this wasn't going to end well. I wasn't nervous at all. I was actually very calm and truly felt that even with 80% of the training plan completed, I should run a relatively good race.

Once the race started, I had a very hard time trying to relax. I was freezing and the wind took my breath away, it was so cold. I was worried that my foot would start hurting since it felt tight, but I prayed that my K-tape would hold it together for me. I ran the first 13 miles at an 8:06 pace but I didn't feel strong. Part of me was thinking that maybe I could pull this BQ off. Maybe the second half of the race, I'll be more relaxed and run a negative split. It didn't happen.

After mile 15-16 my body started slowing down. I tried to force my legs to run faster, but they wouldn't do it. At this point, I decided to give up on a BQ and go for that sub 4. I was still ahead of the 3:45 group and I had a chance. My fueling was on point and my foot was holding up pretty well. Around mile 18 my legs gave in. They turned into concrete slabs and I was an emotional wreck. I started walking through the water stations and texting my husband who was waiting for me at the finish line. I was texting him how bad I wanted to quit. That I couldn't do this shit anymore. That it was over for me. He just kept texting me over and over to finish. To run to him. That I COULD do it. That kept me going.

I put on my sunglasses that I had carried on my head, but it wasn't for the sun. It was to hide my tears. Between miles 20-26 it was a jog/walk for me. The longest 6 mile run of my life. My legs were hurting so bad, I couldn't even walk straight. My thoughts were racing through my head like, "how could this happen to me???" "All that training for this?" "How could my training go so well for this to happen to me. This always happens to me"

I knew other runners could sense my pain. Anytime I'd stop to walk because it hurt so much, another runner would tap my shoulder and tell me that I had this. Seeing Nicole at mile 21 also helped me so much. It gave me the courage to not drop out and actually finish it. I was in disbelief that it was my 4th marathon because it felt like my first. I thought I'd have it by now.

Once I finally crossed the finish line, I held back the tears. It was that slow motion kind of feeling getting my medal and looking for my husband. I felt my iphone vibrate and it was a text from my husband telling me to look left, and there he was. As I walked to him, that's when I lost it. I buried my face in his chest and didn't just cry, I was sobbing uncontrollably. He covered me with a sweatshirt and just put his arms around me. All I could say over and over was "I trained so hard, I trained so hard, I trained so hard." I pretty much cried on and off all the way home on our 2.5 hour drive.

I had my moments of feeling defeated and angry. I've already questioned why me? There are other runners who don't train as hard as me and run better marathons. Why do I have such strong training only for it to fall apart for me the second half of a marathon? I know people look at me and think I'm ungrateful since 4:07 is a respectable time and I realize that. I'm not ungrateful at all. I celebrate every finish line no matter the time. But I am hard on myself and always have been. I know what I'm capable of and it's so frustrating when I can't show it on race day. As Kara Goucher says in her blog post, a marathon is not like a 5K. I can't go out there 2 weeks later and redeem myself and show the world that I can BQ...but there are other marathons out there and I see this is just more experience and a learning opportunity. I'm healthy, happy, and so blessed that I even have a chance to run marathons. The incredible amount of love and support I've had from other runners on Instagram has helped me so much and I can't even begin to thank everyone enough.

I'm looking forward now to running easy and free this winter with no pressure on how many miles or at what pace. I'm going to focus a lot on strength training and just maintaining a solid foundation with my running. I'm excited to see where 2015 takes me. Sometimes things don't go as planned. You can put in the work, sweat, tears, and all the heart you have and things still manage to fall apart. But it doesn't mean it's the end. It just means that there a far better things in store for you in the future. I refuse to give up, even if I'm feeling defeated. I will continue to push forward and not dwell on bad runs in the past. Because bad runs come and they go...just like bad days. That's life. It's hope and all those great moments that make it worth it. One race does not dictate what kind of runner I am. I know what I can do and when my day finally comes, Monumental marathon and everything before and after will just be a part of my journey.

xoxo

Peroneal tendonitis--The road to recovery.

The 2 words every runner dreads saying...I'm injured.

 

 

Sometimes no matter how smart you train, injuries happen and while you can try your best to prevent them, they seem to come out of nowhere and tear you down.

 

I was training right, running 50-60 miles a week and preparing for my fall marathon that I had been looking forward to all year. I had my eyes on Boston and that elusive 3:35 finish time was all I could think about. I was running well up until the week of October 5th. After my strength workout of 3 x 2 miles, my right ankle was burning like it was on fire. Of course, immediately I was in denial about it and assumed it was part of the cumulative fatigue that I had been training with following the brutal Hanson's advanced training plan. I took my planned rest day the following day, then when I woke up that Thursday morning, decided to take another rest day since my ankle was still bothering me. At the time, I figured it was some minor ache that would magically go away by the time I woke up early to go to work the next day.

 

 

That Friday morning, I woke up before work and was out the door by 5am and running around my block. I had just started a second job, so I was getting up early often to get some miles in before I went in to work for the day...and since it was dark and so early, I felt safe just running laps around my block(lots of right turns)  That morning I managed 5 miles and as I limped back into my house, that's when it hit me...I'm injured.

 

 

 

The pain started behind my right ankle and traveled down the side of my foot and I knew right away what it was. Peroneal tendonitis. I HATE tendonitis since those kind of injuries are so hard to heal because of the lack of blood flow to tendons. I started icing right away and limped into work. I woke up the next day with hopes of doing a 12 mile run, only to spend the day icing and foam rolling my calves. It almost seemed to hurt worse that weekend and I knew at that point that I'd be out of commission for a while. I jumped on the treadmill and couldn't even walk and just laid there and cried and cried. After I let out some steam, I decided it was time to shift my focus on recovery since my marathon was 17 days out. I shared my story on Instagram that day and was flooded with comments of encouragement and support. I cried that evening but tears of gratitude from reading all the posts and love from people all over the world. The two posts that stood out were from @therunshark and @runningprado. I can't thank them and everyone else enough. Thank you, thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

From that day, I spent a lot of time foam rolling my peroneal muscles on the outside of my lower leg, icing 3-4 times a day, having my poor husband massage my calves(I literally would be balling and yelling because I had him break up any kind of scar tissue with his hands) and doing a lot of trigger point therapy. I discovered the Pro-tec K-tape and it was God sent because it actually stuck to my skin and helped support my tendons. I followed the steps on the KT tape website on how to tape the injury.  I slept in a compression sock and wore it to work too. After a 3-4 days or so of icing, I changed it to heat therapy to promote blood flow to the injury. I then began stretching my calves, peroneal muscles, and my foot/ankle 2-3 times a day. I also crosstrained on a spin bike to maintain whatever fitness I could.

 

Hold the stretch for 30-60 seconds

 

Take a massage ball and there's a couple trigger points for the peroneal tendon. About 3-4 inches below the knee cap on the side of the leg and a few inches above the affected ankle. Apply a crap ton of pressure for at least a couple minutes. It hurts like hell, but there's immediate relief.

 

 

 

For about 2 weeks, I followed these steps religiously and did absolutely no running. Progress was crazy slow(it felt that way anyway) I did a pretty good job about staying optimistic through it all which isn't easy to do with an injury and a marathon looming around the corner. About 10 days in, I had another melt down and just cried on and off all day long. I just kept praying to God that I could heal enough to just run the marathon. Forget the 3:35 time, I just want to RUN!

 

 

The last 3 days, I have been walking normal with hardly any tightness in my ankle. I felt comfortable enough this morning to attempt a short, easy run and it was a success. It's been hours since my run and my ankle feels great, so I feel confident at this point that I'll be able to run the marathon. I'm going to continue my rehab plan for the next 10 days leading up to the race and run very easy. I've already accepted the fact that Boston probably won't happen this fall, but there are other marathons out there. Many, many opportunities for me.

 

 

My body obviously needed a break. After all, I've been training hard since January of this year. I started then training for my ultra marathon, then did another marathon a few weeks after my ultra. I took a couple weeks off in June then started training for ANOTHER marathon right after. I've literally been in non-stop training mode for almost a year. Listening to my body definitely helped my injury recover faster. I don't know if my injury was from over-training, running around my block in new, stiff shoes, or whatever. All I know is that I'm turning this setback into a comeback. Injuries suck. But they keep us humble and appreciative of when we are running. I know with this being marathon season, there are a lot of other runners injured as well. All I can say, is stay positive and remain patient. Listen to your body and rest. Cross train to maintain sanity and just keep in mind that no matter how long it takes your body to heal, you WILL run again someday. Whether it's next week or 3 months from now, you will run again...And it will make it that much more of an amazing feeling.